USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
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ISAAC N. DRURY.
A plain and unassuming and highly-respected citizen is Isaac N. Drury, the well-known contractor and bridge-builder of Richmond, Indiana. He was born in Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 17, 1832, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Van Allen) Drury, who were well-to-do and prosper- ous farming people of St. Lawrence county.
Isaac N. Drury was reared a farmer and received a common-school edu- cation. At the age of eighteen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a journeyman till twenty-five years of age. In 1853 he came west as far as Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for two years, during which time he was engaged in building bridges over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and in 1855 assisted in the construction of the Indiana Central and Dayton & Western roads, now a part of the Pennsylvania system. He also had charge, as foreman, of the bridge-building between Indianapolis and Dayton. In 1860 he was employed in contracting for and building railroad and highway bridges, going from that into general contracting, which he has since followed. In 1873 he located in Richmond, Indiana, where he still resides, doing business as a contractor, and employing from twenty-five to fifty men.
In 1859 Mr. Drury was married to Frances L. Northrop, daughter of Nathaniel and Roxyana (Lincoln) Northrop, of Rutland county, Vermont. They have one child, Alice, who married F. J. Correll, a prominent tobacco and cigar merchant of Richmond.
The Drury family is possessed of quite a bit of interesting history. The father, who was born in Pittsford, Rutland county, Vermont, of Irish extrac- tion, was a lineal descendant of Hugh Drury, who came from England to
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this country some two hundred years ago, and whose ashes now lie in King Chapel cemetery. It is also claimed that all people bearing the name of Drury are descendants of this Hugh Drury.
Isaac Drury, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and there learned the tailor's trade, which he abandoned later to become a tiller of the soil in St. Lawrence county, New York. He married Miss Elizabeth Van Allen, who was of old Holland-Dutch stock, and daugh- ter of John Van Allen, whose wife was born in 1801 and died in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Drury had a family of four sons and three daughters, all of whom, excepting Isaac N., are living in St. Lawrence county, New York. The children are as follows: Juliett Holt; Charles H., a farmer; Mary S. Smith; Isaac N .; Benjamin F., for thirty-five years a well known and successful practitioner of medicine in St. Lawrence county; Sarah Stacy; and Albert F., also a farmer. Isaac Drury was an active, earnest member of the Con- gregational church, in politics was a Whig, and was a man of sterling integ- rity and high principles. His death occurred in his native county in 1865, at the age of sixty-five.
While speaking of the history of this family we must not forget Calvin Drury, the grandfather of Isaac N. He was a Vermonter by birth and an extensive farmer by occupation, having spent his entire life in that state, and having been twice married. He was an active and influential member of the Congregational church, of which he was at one time secretary. He was also called upon to fill the office of township trustee, and in politics gave his sup- port to the Whig party.
Isaac N. Drury is known in politics as a quiet and unobtrusive Repub- lican, and socially is connected with Richmond Lodge, No. 196, F. & A. M .; Richmond Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; King Solomon's Commandery. No. 8, K. T. He is a very successful business man, and one to be thoroughly relied upon.
HARLAN R. QUINN.
Since the days when Brownsville township, Union county, was a wilder- ness the Quinn family has been influential in its development and gradually increasing prosperity, contributing to the establishment and maintenance of schools and churches, upholding the law and the best interests of the public in general.
Though he has now attained almost the measure of the years of man, as given by the psalmist, Harlan R. Quinn, whose birth occurred May I, 1830, is still strong and sound in mind and body, and apparently takes as ear- est an interest in his various pursuits and enterprises as he did in his early prime. His parents, John and Sarah Quinn, natives of Kentucky, are both deceased, and the old homestead where their later years were spent is now
Harlan R.Quinn
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in the possession of their son, J. B., who is a thrifty farmer of this vicinity. This worthy couple reared a family of thirteen children, -seven girls and six boys,-who attained maturity (see sketch of J. B. Quinn).
Such education as fell to the share of our subject was obtained in the district schools of this neighborhood, and when he was a mere lad he had mastered farming, in its general details. He continued to reside at his birth- place year after year until he was fifty-four years old, as he never married, and his mother could not consent to his removal elsewhere. Long after her death, which occurred in 1866, he followed the routine to which he was accustomed, being associated in the management of the old farm with his brothers, J. B. and William Wesley, for several years. In 1880 he sold his interest in the place to the present owner, J. B. Quinn, and took up his residence in Decatur county, Indiana. During the eight years which he spent there he was not engaged in business, and the longing to return to the home and friends of his youth grew stronger and stronger with him. In 1888 he returned, and, buying the farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres which adjoins his parental homestead, he has since devoted himself assidu- ously to its cultivation. He has erected a commodious modern farm-house, and has remodeled the other building and made numerous alterations and improvements, thus greatly increasing the value and desirability of the place.
The life of Mr. Quinn has been peaceful, busy and devoid of so-called great events. He has endeavored to live in peace and harmony with all mankind, and has quietly and unassumingly pursued the even tenor of his. way. Though taking sufficient interest in public affairs to do his duty as a voter and citizen, his preference being for the principles of the Republican party, he has never aspired to official distinction, and is not a politician in any sense. In his thirteenth year he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, identifying himself with the congregation of Wood's chapel. He has been a liberal contributor to religious and charitable enterprises, and has aided and befriended many a person in need. No one in the community enjoys a better reputation for integrity of word and deed, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him during his entire life no greater testimonial to his worth can be given.
GEORGE W. PARSONS.
Captain George W. Parsons, ex-assessor of Jefferson township, Wayne county, is one of the native sons of this township, his birth having occurred September 18, 1843. He is a grandson of Benjamin F. Parsons, who was one of the early settlers of this locality, and is a son of Amos and Jane (Machett) Parsons. Amos Parsons had one brother, Elijah, and eleven sis- ters. He was likewise a native of this township, and, following the example 27
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of his ancestors, he was devoted to agriculture. Of the three sons and three daughters born to himself and estimable wife, four survive: George W., the subject of this article; Benjamin, a resident of Richmond, Indiana; and two daughters.
The youth of George W. Parsons was spent, uneventfully enough, upon the old homestead, a portion of his time being given to attending the schools of the neighborhood. Lessons of patriotism, industry and devotion to duty were constantly instilled into his nature by his wise parents' precepts and example, and these bore fruit in due season. He was less than eighteen years of age when the dreadful conflict between the north and south began, and soon after reaching his anniversary he offered his services to his country. Enlisting in Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infant- ry, as a private, he was regularly promoted to corporal, sergeant, orderly sergeant, first lieutenant and finally to the captaincy of his company. Of the numerous decisive battles of the war in which he took an active and dis- tinguished part may be mentioned: Shiloh, Perryville, Stone river (where he was wounded in the right shoulder) and Missionary Ridge. After the last named battle he accompanied his regiment to the relief of General Burnside, whose forces at Knoxville were being besieged by the Confederates, under General Longstreet. That great rebel leader having been forced to retreat, the Fifty-seventh then joined the command of General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and did effective service in all the important engagements ·down to Peach Tree creek (including Resaca and Rocky Face Ridge) where, after a desperate resistance, a portion of the regiment was captured by the Confederates. Captain Parsons was, unfortunately, one of the number, and for the next two months he experienced the horrors of Andersonville prison. More fortunate, however, than many of the poor, starved and abused federal soldiers who were his comrades while he was there, he was released at the end of the time specified, under special exchange orders. Resuming his command, he served under General Thomas at the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and after peace had been declared his regiment was sent to Texas, in order to keep vigilant watch of the operations of the French, under Maximilian, in Mexico. Remaining in the Lone Star state for a few months, the Fifty-seventh was finally mustered out at Port Lavaca, Texas, December 14, 1865. It had so happened that our subject received his com- mission as first lieutenant, May 31, 1865, and the following day was raised to the captaincy of his company.
Upon returning home the gallant young captain, then but twenty-two years of age, though he had fought and suffered and had had many experi- ences-on the battle-field, in camp and in prison-that had aged him greatly, commenced making preparations for his marriage. On the Ist of April, 1866,
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he wedded Miss Priscilla, daughter of Hannibal and Fanny (Perry) Mathews, who were natives of New York state and Vermont, respectively. They were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, and removed to Hagerstown, Wayne county, in 1852. The father married, after the death of his first wife, Fanny, her half-sister, and a son and three daughters were born of this union. Mrs. Parsons, who is one of the eight children of the first marriage, was born in Cincinnati, May 5, 1849, and has resided in Jefferson township since child- hood. The Captain and his wife lost three children, who died in infancy, and their surviving sons and daughters are named as follows: Amos W., Emma J., Harry C., Gertrude F., Edna E., Benjamin F., George W. and Mary Irene.
Since the close of the war Captain Parsons has given his attention to various business enterprises, and for many years has bought live stock and has supplied the local markets with meat. As a citizen he is held in high esteem in his community, as may be seen by the fact that he was made assessor of his township and was retained in that office for eight years. Politically he is an uncompromising Republican.
ROWLAND COLEMAN.
Rowland Coleman, deceased, was born in Nantucket island, Massachu- setts, August 15, 1787, and in the early part of the present century came out to the Western Reserve, reaching Indiana before she attained the dignity of statehood. As one of the pioneers of the Hoosier state, his history is of more than passing interest in this work.
Referring to the early history of the Coleman family in this country, we find that Edward was the original Coleman in America and his settle- ment was on Nantucket island. Along the agnatic line he traces his descent back through Barnabas, Jr., Barnabas, Sr., John, Jr., and John, Sr., to Thomas Coleman. Many members of the family have been seafaring men. Several of Rowland's brothers were sea captains, and other of the Colemans have been found in the mechanical ranks .. Rowland, who was a carpenter, previous to the war of 1812 came west, and he would have been a soldier in that war had he not been rejected on account of a defect in his hearing. He worked at his trade in Cincinnati until 1818. In the meantime, however, in 1815, he came over into Indiana and entered land in Union county, where his son now lives. In 1818 he located here permanently, that year erecting one of the first two frame houses in the vicinity. He built an addition to it in 1834 and Frederick in 1859 remodeled and added to it, the present farm residence being the result. Here he lived and prospered the rest of his days, working at his trade and farming, and many of the old buildings throughout the locality bear the marks of his handiwork. He died December 16, 1863.
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In 1830 he married Mrs. Hannah Coffin, née Stanton, who was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, daughter of James Stanton, the Stanton family having originally come from Nantucket island. She died December 14, 1886, near the age of ninety-two years, passing away on the farm which had been her home for sixty years. Rowland Coleman was born and reared a Quaker, but was not a member of the church. Old Salem church stands on land once owned by him. Of his family we record that Frederic was the eldest, and of him we make further mention; Susan, wife of Gilbert Tressler, an attorney of Connersville, Indiana, died in early womanhood, at the age of twenty- one years; and John, who died at the age of nine years.
Frederic A. Coleman was born August 4, 1832, in the original house his father built on the farm, and on this farm he has since lived, with the excep- tion of two years. With a taste for mechanics like other members of the family referred to, he learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth, and worked at that trade a short time. His education began in the common schools, was carried forward in Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, where he spent two years, but did not graduate owing to the fact that he returned home to take charge of the farming operations. During his student life at Oxford, the celebrated Professor David Swing had charge of the preparatory depart- ment of the university, and Whitelaw Reid was a classmate of Mr. Coleman's. The farm above alluded to comprises one hundred and sixty acres and is devoted to a variety of crops. The residence, standing somewhat back from the highway, is approached by an avenue shaded by pine trees, the planting of Frederic Coleman in 1864. Other improvements have been made by him, including one thousand rods of tile for drainage.
Politically Mr. Coleman is a Republican and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, but is not a politician. In his religious views he is broad and liberal.
Mr. Coleman was married in 1858 to Miss Louise McGonigle, who died six years later. His second marriage, to Miss Marie L. Quigby, of Fairfield, Indiana, was consummated in 1875. They have one child, Ethel May, a member of the class of '99 at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana.
JONATHAN BRIGHT QUINN.
Three-fourths of a century has the Quinn family been closely associated with the progress and development of Union county, and none of her citizens have manifested greater public spirit or more earnest interest in the reduction of the country from a wilderness to a fertile land of fine farms, with flourish- ing towns dotted here and there.
John Quinn, the father of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in his boyhood he went to Kentucky, where he married Sarah Bright, and
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together they came to the wilds of Indiana in 1821. For two years they made their home in Harrison township, Union county, at the end of which time they permanently located on a quarter-section of land, the present home of the subject of this sketch. The young couple lived in a very humble way at first, but were quite happy and content in their simple cabin, built of rough round logs. Later they rose to the dignity of a hewed-log house, and finally they removed to a substantial house, in 1845. Their landed posessions were added to until they owned three hundred and sixty acres. These successive changes marked their gradual advancement toward a competence, but it was accomplished only by the utmost diligence, industry and economy. At the same time this worthy pair were rearing their six sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to maturity. With the exception of Harlan Robbins Quinn, they were all married, but he and our subject were the only ones who continued to dwell in the neighborhood of the old home. In addition to his farming operations, the senior Mr. Quinn carried on a tan-yard, which after his death was managed by his widow and son. A man of liberality and wis- dom, he used his means and influence in the support of worthy public enter- prises, and during his life-time donated land to the Methodist Episcopal church and to the cemetery. One of the original members of Woods Chapel, he often had the little body of friends and neighbors meet in his home before the church was built, and in innumerable ways showed his zeal and strong desire to witness the triumph of religion. His active and useful life came to a close in 1852, and fourteen years later his devoted wife followed him to the grave, she being then about seventy years of age. In his political views Mr. Quinn had first been a Democrat of the Jackson school, but when the slavery ques- tion became the paramount issue he transferred his allegiance and thence- forth voted with the Whig party. His sons followed his example, and our subject later joined the ranks of the Republicans.
The children of John and Sarah (Bright) Quinn were: Daniel A., who lived for many years in Putnam county, Indiana, and died there; Mary Ann, who married Levi W. Moore, and lived and died in Decatur county, Indiana; Sophia B., wife of Davis W. John; James Edward, of Putnam county; Margaret Jane, deceased, wife of Noah Naylor, of Putnam county; Jonathan B .; John F., of Bartholomew county, Indiana; Rebecca W., widow of Robert O. Powell, of Shelby county; Belinda, deceased, wife of James Powell, of Bartholomew county; Harlan R., of Union county; Sarah Har- rison, widow of L. W. Moore, of Decatur county; Louisa Grover, deceased, wife of John Coddington, of Madison county, Indiana; and William Wesley, of Hendricks county, this state.
The birth of our subject took place on the 13th of April, 1823, on the old homestead in Harrison township, Union county, and as long as he can
-
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remember he has lived on the farm which he now owns and cultivates. In his youth he assisted his father in the tannery, and later he operated the plant in partnership with his brothers, William Wesley and Harlan. Then, buying their interests, he continued in business alone until he decided to close it, in 1860. He has been very successful, industrious and energetic, and thoroughly deserves the genuine praise which is freely accorded him by those who have known him a lifetime. In connection with his tannery, Mr. Quinn carried a stock of boots and shoes and harness for some years and enjoyed a good trade in those lines. He has given his children assistance as they started out in independent careers, and still retains a goodly fortune and four hundred acres in the homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Quinn celebrated a half century of happy wedded life on the anniversary of their marriage, January 2, 1899. Fifty years ago they pledged themselves, each to the other, and through joys and sorrows innu- merable they have passed, until now they stand on the sunset side of life. Mrs. Quinn was formerly Miss Mary A. Manning, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Manning, and her birthplace was in Abington township, Wayne county. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Quinn died in infancy. Their daughters are as follows: Sophia Ellen, wife of Henry Winters, of Browns- ville township; Alwilda Porter, wife of John Meek, of Nebraska; Sarah Elizabeth, who married Samuel Flack, and died at the age of twenty-six years, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Eugenia Florence, wife of Wendall Haw- kins, a farmer, now on the Quinn homestead; Mary Bright, wife of William Taylor, of Center township, Union county; Rebecca May, who is at home; and Emma Louisa, widow of John Gear, of Brownsville. Our subject and wife have nineteen grandchildren, of whom none are married. The whole family, parents and children, have been connected with the Methodist church from early years, and when residents of this locality have been regular attendants at Wood's chapel. Mr. Quinn has served in the various offices of the church, such as class-leader and steward, for over two-score years. Faithful and true in all the relations of life, he and his loved wife need have few regrets in looking back along the pathway by which they have come, and to their children they will leave the priceless heritage of a stainless name and history.
TIMOTHY NICHOLSON.
Timothy Nicholson, of Richmond, is too well known to the people of Indiana to need any introduction to the readers of this volume. He is a prominent factor in the industrial and mercantile life of Richmond, but is better known in connection with his labors in the interests of his fellow men. He has a mind above all personal considerations, concerned with those large, loving interests belonging to humanity. There are many men in Indiana-
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leaders in professional and commercial circles-who have acquired wide repu- tation in business circles, but in the homes of the land, as well as in the establishments devoted to trade, the name of Timothy Nicholson is familiar. Amid life's busy cares he has found time to devote to humanity, and recog- nizing the brotherhood of mankind he has labored for the advancement of the human race, aided in raising the fallen and extended a helping hand to the down-trodden and the needy. It is this that has made him one of the highly esteemed and loved citizens of Richmond and inseparably interwoven his history with the record of its best development.
He was born in Perquimans county, North Carolina, on the 2d of Novem- ber, 1828, and is a son of Josiah and Ann (White) Nicholson, both of whom were elders in the Society of Friends and prominent and influential citizens of the community in which they made their home. His ancestors were of a sterling, stalwart people who suffered persecution for the sake of their relig- ion. In order to secure freedom of conscience they came to America at an early period in the settlement of the New World. The first of whom we have record, Edmond and Elizabeth Nicholson, were natives of England, whence they emigrated to New England, where the remainder of their days were spent. Their son, Christopher Nicholson, also crossed the Atlantic about 1660 and for a time resided in New England, but he and his brother were beaten on account of their religious views, and in consequence he sought a home in North Carolina, where his marriage was recorded in 1680. He had two sons, one of whom was Christopher Nicholson, who became the father of Thomas Nicholson, the great-grandfather of the subject of this review. This Thomas Nicholson was an able minister of the Society of Friends, and a leading man of the community in which he resided. He owned a number of slaves, and in common with the people of that time and place believed that such proprietorship was scriptural and right, but later study of the question taught him that the practice of holding human beings in bondage was contrary to the law of God. Accordingly, despite the diffi- culty and unpopularity of the act, he liberated his negroes and his example was followed by other Friends until there was not a slave-owner among the Friends in that section of North Carolina. He afterward declared that he would not again become entangled in slave-holding for the weight of the slaves in gold. The grandfather of Timothy Nicholson was also named Thomas, and like other of the family devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, · and held to the religious faith of the sect with which his people had so long been identified.
Oliver Wendell Holmes has said that "the way to reform a man is to begin with his grandfather," and, indeed, fortunate is he who has back of him an honorable ancestry. In this particular Timothy Nicholson was particu-
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larly blessed, as well as having in his youth the surroundings of a cultured Christian home; yet with all these a man's character must depend upon him- self, and his accomplishments or failures in life are attributable to his own desires and efforts. While trained to habits of industry, sobriety and probity, it remained to Timothy Nicholson to put them to practical use in every-day life and to test his principles in the fire of actual experience. He was reared upon a farm and was afforded excellent educational privileges that his mental culture might be in accord with his physical and moral development. He was for some time a student in Belvidere Academy, an institution established and maintained by the Society of Friends, and when eighteen years of age he became a student in the Friends' school in Providence, Rhode Island, where he remained for a year and a half. He then returned to his home and was appointed principal of the Belvidere Academy, a position which he ably filled for six years. He then accepted an invitation to take charge of the prepara- tory department of Haverford College, near Philadelphia, one of the oldest and best known Friends' schools in the country. There he performed his duties with such signal ability and skill that at the close of his fourth year in that school he was advanced to the position of general superintendent of the college, in which capacity he acceptably served two years.
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